Review: ‘Bear Pirate Viking Queen’ #1 Has Majestic Visuals

Writer Sean Lewis creates a script that is mostly narration. Whether the narrator is reliable or not is constantly in question. This questioning is both good and bad. The good of this element is that it creates a Captain Ahab type madness within the lead character (Moby-Dick; or, The Whale [1851]). While the bad is that the narration comes across as possibly not being even from the lead character. Still Lewis does well enough that this bad part should not deter from any possible enjoyment the script can generate. Lewis also does a brilliant job with the dialogue, by making it flow between the narration.

Artist and letterer Jonathan Marks Barravecchia kind of leads this comic. At least in this reviewer’s opinion. Meaning that the visuals are often more attention-grabbing than the writing. This is also due to the fact that Barravecchia creates a lot of differing fonts that add to the visual spectacles on display in this issue. Yet, Barravecchia does a great job using the lettering to anchor the writing to the art. Thus, Lewis’s work remains strongly present in the combination.

When it comes to the art the cover Barravecchia creates is just the tip of the creative iceberg for this issue’s visuals. Though the cover provides a good example of both the line work and the dark coloring. The color palette differs depending on the art style Barravecchia employs, but always remains on the dark side. Yet, everything is visible no matter the art style or change to the color palette. As for the visual characterization there is a great amount that one has to infer due to the experimental stylings. Nevertheless, Barravecchia does amazing work when it comes to character creation via both traditional and experimental visuals. However, the use of obvious photoshop in one moment, and the fact that traditional panels are not in this comic, may present a problem for some readers.

Bear Pirate Viking Queen #1 is out now from Image Comics.